New Zealand rugby review reveals cultural insensitivity, body shaming

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Rugby's (NZR) chief executive said that the governing body had "to do better" after coaches were found to have made culturally insensitive comments to the country's top women players and indulged in favouritism and body shaming.

The findings were in an independent "cultural and environmental" review of the Black Ferns, the New Zealand women's team, sparked by allegations from hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate.

She alleged in December on Instagram that she had suffered a mental breakdown because of critical comments made by head coach Glenn Moore.

The post was made shortly after the Black Ferns' disastrous 2021 tour of the northern hemisphere in which they lost all four Tests to France and England.

At the time, Chris Lendrum, NZR general manager of professional rugby and performance, said that the allegations were "distressing to read".

The review said that the on-tour situation was "not well managed or monitored".

Defending champions New Zealand host the World Cup this year, beginning on Oct 8.

Moore will still be in charge and said that he was "committed" to learning from the review.

"Participating in high-performance sport, whether as a coach, player or part of the management team, can present unique challenges," Moore said in a statement.

"The findings have highlighted a number of those challenges. There are learnings from the review. I am committed to ensuring those are taken on board."

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson apologised in a statement released late on Monday.

"No one should be in any doubt about our commitment to the progression of women's rugby in this country," said Robinson.

"This report highlights that we haven't got everything right and we apologise for not having provided all the tools for